While browsing our Flickr pool, this underwater image by Noe Todorovich stuck out among the summer pictures. Not just because we’d all love to be out of the office, gliding in a pool, but because even when we’re not, of course, walking through the humid D.C. air feels pretty much the same. The contrast of the cool blue with the tight expression helps fuel the opposing emotions.

Noe told us about taking the photo:

We decided to go to the pool on Sunday and just after I jumped in, I remembered the waterproof iPhone case that I bought Patrick for Christmas in 2011. We hadn’t really used it much yet, so I figured this was a perfect opportunity. I used it with my iPhone4S to take some pictures under the water, and Patrick had the idea to swim towards me while I took the picture… I liked the way this shot showed him reaching forward, the bubbles ascending into the reflection on the top of the frame (bottom of the top of the water).

Hang on, is that Harry Lime lurking just beyond the shadows? This high contrast shot from Chris McDaniel falls squarely into the film noir genre. Chock full of style and mood, it resembles a movie still, freezing our protagonist forever on the precipice of the story’s gripping conclusion. (EXIF)

The timing of this image by Chris Suspect is wonderful, as are the contrasts. Yes, the man is much larger than the door frame but the color of his bright clothing pops out from the red, white, black and beige background. He also forms a large upside down V shape in the center of the photograph, while almost every other shape in the frame is a square or rectangle. The composition works for all of these reasons, but the most important may be that this is just plain funny.

We weren’t at all surprised when we started seeing some excellent fireworks shots appear in our Flickr pool last night. The pick of the bunch though was this one from the industrious philliefan99. He eschews the more predictable straight-on skyline perspective anchored by the Monument or other distinctive memorial edifice, instead framing his almost apocalyptic-looking shot to establish the relationship between the intense fireworks and the awestruck spectators. (EXIF.)

Have you been thinking about our “America” photo challenge? Flickr user slightlyworn added this to our pool before we issued the call, but this fits the bill quite nicely. The enhanced twilight colors are a sort of effusive foreshadowing of the ruckus to grace the Washington skyline tomorrow. The young woman in soft focus looks up away from the sleepy city and out of the frame, creating a scene that is calming, dreamy, and just a little bit hopeful. Add your images showing what America is to you in our Flickr pool and tag them “AmericaChallenge.” We’ll run a gallery of our favorites on Monday.